FIGHT ANNOUNCED K-1 -90kg German qualifier in Dortmund: eight-man bracket set for Oct. 24

The next name in German heavy kickboxing could come from one night in Dortmund. K-1 runs its -90kg German qualifying tournament on Oct. 24, and only one of the eight entrants survives to the next stage, according to Gong Kakutogi.

The prize is a route, not a title. The winner goes to a final qualifier in December. Getting through that earns a place in the World Final 16 in Japan on Feb. 11, 2027, with the world title tournament following on May 9.

The bracket mixes styles and weight-class origins. Robert Stoll, a 202cm fighter nicknamed "Sagat," is the ISKA Muay Thai world light cruiserweight (-85kg) champion and is listed at 24-3-1, with the knee and a downward right straight as his main weapons. He meets Othmane Fekaki, a 198cm southpaw with a Muay Thai background and a 7-1 record, five wins by KO. Gong Kakutogi expects that bout to turn into a brawl.

The other quarterfinals are just as lopsided in profile. Nuri Zeqa, the LFL world heavyweight (-95kg) champion, is 27-4 with 20 KOs and faces Yassir Taoussi, the IKBF German light heavyweight (-80kg) champion at 24-3. Both are listed as heavy hitters, so a knockout is the expected outcome. Karol Lasiewicki (12-5, nine KOs) takes on WKU world cruiserweight (-90kg) champion Agon Bellaqa, who has a strong right and a sharp left hook. In the opener, Valentinos Kyriakidis, small for the division and aggressive with low kicks and hooks, faces Marvin Stepputtis, who uses his reach and knees.

Every bout, from the quarterfinals to the final, is three three-minute rounds with one extension round. Winners may have to fight three times in one night, so durability will count as much as power.

The event is framed as a search for the next German standout after Lukas Achterberg, winner of the K-1 WORLD GP 2026 -90kg world tournament. Watch the semifinal pairings: the winners of the first two quarterfinals meet, and so do the winners of the last two.